Events
Christmas Cruise in Stockholm – The Christmas Table Your Company Will Never Forget
Take your team out on the water this December. A private Christmas cruise in the Stockholm archipelago with a traditional Christmas table on board — for groups from 10 to 120 guests.
By Lars Johansson · · 7 min read
Every company in Stockholm faces the same question in October: where do we hold this year's Christmas party? The restaurants are booked out, the conference rooms feel flat, and last year's venue felt exactly like the year before.
There is a better answer. Take your group out on the water, cruise through the wintery Stockholm archipelago, and enjoy a traditional Swedish Christmas table on board your own private boat. This is what a Christmas cruise in Stockholm actually looks like — and why companies that try it once tend to rebook for next year before the evening is over.
What Is a Christmas Cruise?
A Christmas cruise is a private boat charter during the Christmas season, where a full Swedish Christmas table — julbord — is served on board while the boat glides through Stockholm's illuminated waterways and out into the archipelago.
Your group has the entire boat to yourselves. No other parties, no shared dining room, no fixed seating plan decided by a restaurant. Just your colleagues, the winter city lights, the open water and a long, generous Christmas dinner.
At Stockholm By Boat we run Christmas cruises for groups from 10 to 120 guests, on boats matched to your group size — from elegant motor yachts for smaller teams to larger vessels built for company-wide celebrations.
The Christmas Table on Board
The Christmas table is the heart of the evening. Expect the full Swedish tradition, prepared for service at sea:
The cold table — pickled herring in several varieties, gravlax with mustard-dill sauce, smoked salmon, Christmas ham with coarse mustard, cheeses and crispbread.
The warm dishes — Swedish meatballs, Janssons frestelse, prinskorv sausages, red cabbage and roasted root vegetables.
The finish — rice pudding, saffron buns, gingerbread, coffee and something sweet to carry out on deck.
To drink — warm glögg on arrival, julmust, beer, wine and traditional julsnaps for the toast.
Why Companies Choose a Boat Over a Restaurant
It is genuinely memorable
Everyone on your team has been to a restaurant julbord. Almost no one has eaten Christmas dinner while cruising past the illuminated Old Town, the Royal Palace and the winter-dark archipelago. It is the kind of evening people still talk about at next year's party.
Complete privacy
The boat is yours. Speeches, awards, your own playlist, a toast on the aft deck under the stars — nothing needs to be adapted to other guests, because there are none.
Small teams and large companies alike
Whether you are a tight team of ten or a company of a hundred and twenty, there is a boat that fits. Smaller groups get an intimate, almost private-yacht feeling; larger groups get a proper venue with room for dinner, mingling and dancing.
Four hours that feel like a journey
Our Christmas cruises run for a minimum of four hours. You step aboard in central Stockholm, dine as the city slides by, head out between the islands, and return when the evening is done. It is not just a dinner — it is an experience with a beginning, a middle and an end.
A Typical Evening on Board
18:00 — Welcome aboard. Your group is met at a central Stockholm quay with warm glögg. Coats are hung, glasses are raised, and the lines are cast off.
18:30 — The cruise begins. The boat heads out through the city waterways as the first courses of the Christmas table are served.
19:00 — Christmas dinner. The full julbord is enjoyed at your own pace while Stockholm's winter skyline passes outside the panoramic windows.
21:00 — Mingling and music. Dessert, coffee and snaps. Move between the salon and the open deck, take photos of the city lights, or just enjoy the quiet of the archipelago at night.
22:00 — Return. Back at the quay in the heart of the city, with the rest of the December evening still ahead of you.
Practical Details for Your Christmas Cruise
Group size: 10–120 guests, with boats matched to your party.
Duration: Minimum four hours — most companies choose four to five.
Season: From mid-November through December. The most popular dates sell out early, so booking in September or October is strongly recommended.
Departure: Central Stockholm, with pickup points adapted to your group.
Weather: December in the archipelago is cold but rarely a problem — our boats are heated, with bright panoramic salons, and the open deck is there for those who want the full winter feeling.
Dietary requirements: Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy-friendly options are always available with notice.
How to Book Your Company's Christmas Cruise
Booking is simple. Send us your preferred date, your group size and any wishes for the evening — we reply within 30 minutes with a tailored proposal and boat suggestions.
December dates go fast. The earlier you ask, the better the choice of boats.
Explore our Christmas Cruise to see the boats and the full experience, or send a booking request directly and we will take it from there.
This December, skip the restaurant queue. Take your group out on the water, gather around the Christmas table, and give your team a Stockholm evening they will actually remember.